#shoproane #shoplocal #shopsmall

"Shop Where the Heart Is" Campaign

For the 2017 holiday season, the Roane Chamber was again a Neighborhood Champion for the American Express #shopsmall campaign. Participating businesses in the 2017 "Shop Where Your Heart Is" Shopping Spree received marketing and promotional materials encouraging the community to #shopsmall. For more information on the "Shop Where Your Heart Is" Shopping Spree campaign contact the Roane Chamber at 865.376.5572

The Roane County Chamber has operated a “Shop Roane First” program for many years, spreading the word about why it is important to shop locally when possible - and especially at a Chamber member business, as those are the businesses who are investing in their community. Click here to search for Roane County Chamber members by category or by name.

Did you know?

One half of all local sales tax goes directly to our schools;

For every $100 spent in locally-owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community, according to one nationally-known ‘shop local’ advocacy group; Nothing returns to the community when those same purchases are made online; and it reduces your energy costs and expense of traveling - making it the greener choice.

The Shop Roane First program includes several promotions throughout the year to help raise awareness in the community. The Chamber has partnered with Roane County Schools on a number of projects; promoted annually a special shopping day - Super Saturday - asking everyone to spend at least $50 locally; and using social media through the year to spread the word about its Chamber retailers and what makes them special.

Shopping Spree Contest

One of the more popular facets of the Shop Where Your Heart Is campaign is the annual Shopping Spree Contest. Local chamber retailers become a contest entry point by paying $100 that goes toward the cash prizes and the promotions for the contest. Customers then enter the contest to win $1,000 in cash prizes at any of the participating Chamber retailers during the contest dates (beginning Super Saturday in November through the middle of December). The cash prize is to be spent at any Chamber member business. The lucky winners are drawn during the annual Roane Alliance Christmas Open House (held the middle of December) and notified the same day.

Those who participated in the 2017 Shop Where Your Heart Is Shopping Spree include:

You must be a Chamber business to participate in the contest. Not a Chamber member? Contact The Roane County Chamber of Commerce at 865-376-5572. Remember to check in while shopping local using #shoproane via instagram, facebook and twitter!

Contest Rules:

1. Up to $1,000 in cash prizes will be awarded

2. Contest runs from the day after Thanksgiving to the middle of December (exact dates will be announced)

3. Contest entry forms will be available at participating businesses (exact locations are provided by the Chamber)

4. Drawing is held during a public event at The Roane Alliance following the end of the contest.5. Winner(s) are contacted by telephone immediately6. If after 24 hours all efforts have failed in contacting winner(s), another name will be drawn

7. Winner(s) may be accompanied by a Chamber Board Member who will pay for selected goods at any participating businesses.8. Chamber Board Members are not eligible to participate in the drawing.9. Roane Alliance staff members and immediate family are not eligible to participate in drawing. 10. Employees of a participating Chamber business are not eligible to enter drawing at their place of employment but may enter at other participating businesses.

Super Saturday

Marketing & Promotions

Chamber businesses are promoted on the Chamber's Facebook page by not only posting information about them throughout the year, but also sharing Chamber member's Facebook posts, helping to spread the word about specials, events, and what makes them special. The Chamber also posts' a copy of each month's Chamber newsletter on their Facebook page, reaching a bigger audience for those members included in that month's newsletter. The Chamber also helps promote Chamber member events and specials by including the details in their weekly emails sent to all Chamber members. In order to be considered for inclusion a Chamber member must notify the Chamber by email or by calling 865-376-5572.